The budget increase means $518 million more for hospitals in annual operating funding.

'We're hurting'

The union president for clerical and service workers at the hospital in Sudbury, Ont., calls it a step in the right direction, but hopes it helps with workloads and translates into more front line staff and patient beds.

"We're hurting," Dave Shelefontiuk of CUPE Local 1623 said.

"I'm hoping any increase will result in alleviating that issue, but we'll have to wait and see."